Keynote: Dave Pearson

David Pearson is the CEO of Washington Association for Community Health, the state Primary Care Association (PCA) that works with all of the Community Health Center (CHC) networks located throughout the state of Washington and based in Olympia.

Previously, David was a Regional Executive for the American Hospital Association and the AHA’s representative to AHA-Member hospitals and the state hospital associations in Region 9, including AR, LA, OK and TX.

Before that, David was the President and CEO of TORCH, the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals. TORCH is an association of rural hospitals throughout Texas. Before becoming CEO, David served as TORCH’s Vice President of Advocacy and Communications.

Prior to coming to TORCH, David was the Director of Operations for the State Office of Rural Health in Texas and also coordinated all the agency’s rural hospital programs. Before that, he held professional positions at several agencies and hospitals in Texas and Kansas, including Executive Director of a 12-member rural hospital cooperative (Med-Op, Inc.) in the state’s Northwestern quadrant.

David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Public Administration degree both from Texas State University. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is Board Certified in Healthcare Management by the ACHE.

David has been active in the leadership of several healthcare organizations, including President-Elect of the National Rural Health Association.

David is also a proud husband and father of two boys. He and his wife Laura make their home in Austin, TX, but are transitioning to Olympia, WA.

Specialties: Healthcare and Public Administration, Rural Health Policy, Hospital Finance and Operation, State and Federal Governmental Relations, Legislative and Regulatory Processes, Grassroots Advocacy